Chapter 347
Lucien couldn't loosen his hold on Elain. He held her in his lap, on the floor, his arms around her waist as he enjoyed the feeling of her arms around his neck. He had known the instant she had looked into his eyes that she had wanted him to kiss her as much as he had wanted to kiss her and, now that he had begun, he didn't think that he would be able to stop. Unable to help a soft groan, he pulled her in even tighter, wanting to give in to that driving force within himself that pushed even harder when he felt Elain open to him. Her hands were gentle on him and, when she parted her lips for him, Lucien redoubled his efforts to leash himself, to get it all under control. He had to keep reminding himself that they were not alone, and that they were not yet safe and back in their own rooms. That thought sparked something else in Lucien and suddenly, all he wanted was to pick his mate up and get her out of here. He needed to get Elain somewhere safe, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to relax until he had her comfortable and protected in their bed.
Her soft hand against his cheek brought his head up and he met her eyes once again. He could see her thinking the same thing, see the desire there, and he could see the understanding and knew that she was aware of the struggle going on inside of him. "I'm not going anywhere, love." She breathed, "Not without you…"
He realised then that his grip on her was too tight, and that he would probably have bruised her. Swallowing thickly, he forced himself to loosen his hands, still unable to let her go. "I… I need to get you home…"
"Okay…" She nodded, her fingers tracing his cheek, following the path of his scar from his brow to his jaw. Elain leaned into him them, and Lucien remained as still as possible as she brushed her lips gently against his. "Take me home…" She breathed, and Lucien's blood heated as it began to race more quickly through his veins.
He got quickly to his feet, bringing Elain with him. Her arms remained around his neck and he held her protectively, possessively, to himself. Lucien knew that movement was going on around them. He didn't care what it was beyond paying only enough attention to establish that nothing was threat to his mate and himself. The soldiers were restraining the males who had been in the room with them, and his mother and Tisia were now getting to their own feet. They were alright; he knew that. They were unharmed, as had been the other two he had sent out the door. That was all Lucien needed to know and, with that knowledge, he dismissed further thoughts about anyone but Elain. He turned and strode for the door, holding his mate in his arms as she gazed up at him.
There was a part of Lucien that recognised he was not acting in the most responsible heir-like manner. He knew that generally in this situation, he should have stayed and helped bring their enemies back to the palace. He should have overseen the whole process and not left until it was all taken care of. There was another part of him, however, that wouldn't stop screaming at him to get Elain out of there, to take her home and make sure she was safe. This part didn't give a fuck about the other part and what he should have been doing and, this was the voice he listened to.
Lucien had waited too long, yearned too hard, and loved Elain too much to prioritise anyone or anything above her. Even his responsibilities as Helion's heir. He knew that the Day Court soldiers would do their job, and he even knew that his mother would make sure that Helion was properly informed of everything that had happened. He trusted her to tell it true, tell it properly. Also, he reasoned, once he'd satisfied himself that Elain was safe and unharmed, when this urge to get her home had subsided, he would find his father himself and tell him his version of what had happened. He hoped that Helion would understand why he had chosen Elain over everything else.